PM Schoof questioned as witness in case against man suspected of leaking state secrets

Caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof has been questioned as a witness in a trial against a former employee of the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV), who is suspected of selling state secrets to Moroccan intelligence services. Schoof previously led the NCTV.

Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, the current head, has also been questioned as a witness. The hearings were held in private before an examining magistrate. Details of the discussion were not disclosed during Thursday’s public hearing against suspect Ab el M. in Rotterdam’s secured court.

The court had decided to question them earlier, as they could provide information on “the organization’s internal perspective on the suspect’s role and their access to and handling of state secrets and confidential documents.”

El M., 66, was arrested at Schiphol in October of 2023, when he was planning on traveling to Morocco with a large number of data carriers. He was held in pre-trial detention until July before being released.

The suspect has always denied the accusations. “I have not shared any state secrets with anyone,” he stated at a previous hearing. Apart from that, he has largely stayed silent, including during Thursday’s session. His lawyer, Bart Nooitgedagt, explained that this is because of the confidentiality requirements tied to his role at the NCTV.

The court intends to begin the substantive trial against El M. in February. A decision is still pending on whether to hear four individuals employed by the Moroccan intelligence service. The Public Prosecution Service considers their testimony unnecessary.

Nooitgedagt told the judge that he was “extremely frustrated” by this position, arguing that, at a minimum, an attempt should be made to question them. “Are we just putting on a show here?” he asked. The court aims to decide next week whether these witnesses will be heard.